The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-10-26
ST LEFTOVER"
The New Russian Explosive that Does
Away with Heavy Artillery.
New York Times

LNoW Aoih
Russian Chemist is reported 10 have in
vented gunpowder which, If it as success
full In actual warfare as It has been in the
preliminary experiments. promises to revolu-
tionize the science of international carnage
by doing away with heavy artillery altogeth-
er. Ordinary gunpowder and gun cotton
explode by expanding with great force,
either simultaneously In all directions or
downward, as a result the guns from which
the projeetiles are to be forced must be made
Of metal thick enough and strong enough TO
resist the power Of the expansion. Hence,
heavy cannon requiring bulky carriages and
great power to move them are absolute
requisites to an army using heavy ammuni-
ton in its operations, and the artillery has
become In many cases the most important
branch Of an army in the field. Heavy ar
tillery, however, can only be moved slowly
and with great difficulty, and In the case Of
mountainous regions II is almost impossible
to make II effective for an invading force
on account OF the natural impediments to its
progress. The Russian inventor, If his dis
cOYery proves TO be what IL Is claimed, has
solved the problem Of making heavy shells
and balls available without the use Of weigh
ty or bulky guns.
The new explosive Is called "sleetover,"
ana its composition is for the present a Sc
eret known only TO the digcoverer and the
War Office at st. Petersburg. The peculiar
lty Of the compound Is that II explUdes by
expanding In one direction only, and that
the direction In which the projeetile is TO be
earried-tOrward. No heavy metal Is re-
qulred to resist its expansion, either upward,
downward, or on either side. Its force Is ex-
pended directly In front, where IL has moth
Ing but air to encounter, and its explosive
power can be made equal, If not superior, to
that Of gunpOwder and gun cotton, SO that a
DTOipptIn no sent nv in "A ia "a hv tha
use of either OF these explosives. 1t Is said
that an experiment was made with q card
board tube, and that heavy projectile was
shot from u by means Of the "Sleetover"
without doing material damage 10 the tube.
This experiment. OF course. was designed to
show how light material might be used in
constructing the "SleetOver" guns and
there is no immediate prospect OF Russia's
arming her artillery with cardboard tubes.
but aluminium guns, or tubes OF some other
light metal, which can be easily transported
on the shoulders Of men, are designed for
use With the new explosive, and the Rus
sian officers have great faith that they will
answer every purpose now served by the
heavy artillery Of the army.
The revolution which this invention will
make In the science of war, ii all that Is
claimed Tor 1t Is demonstrated by actual ex-
pertinent, will be understood by every sol
dier; The heavy gun carriages which can
not be dragged through mountain passes
will be discarded. and sturdy men will shOul-
der the aluminium guns and carry them easily
into places which hitherto have been mac
oeSstbie to the artillery Of the enemy. All
the heavy transportation necessary TO be done
will be that of he balls and other prOjectiles.
and these can be carried in small loads with
comparative ease. The dangers from the ex-
plosiOn OF heavy cannon. whan subject TO
too great strain, will be done away with.
as ''Sleetover" pushes only to the front. and
requires tho exercise Of no resistance from
the tube ~ which It explOdes. The super
iority 81 the new powder will be seen In
slany ways, II the claims Of its disco Yerer
are established, and Russia. 80 long AZ she
can Keep the secret Of its composition, will
nave great advantage over her military
nelghoors, Sach secrets as this. however, il
= pleasant to reflect, are not usually kept
long, and 1t will be very strange If Germany
ana every other warlike power In Europe 3
not able To manufacture her own 'oleetOyer
before the armies of TIE Gar are prepared
70 make practical use Of the new explosive,